Letters: We expect debate on the issues, not backgrounds

Claudia Tenney makes no secret of her privileged upbringing. Her background doesn’t seem to have instilled empathy in our congresswoman. She recently displayed a troubling contempt and scorn for those of Italian ethnicity.

The catalyst is Anthony Brindisi, an Italian-American Assemblyman from Utica, running for the 22nd Congressional District seat in 2018. In a display of pique, ill-humor and arrogance, Tenney attacked the Assemblyman’s family and ethnicity, referring to ties with organized crime. She contrasted Brindisi’s father, a former criminal attorney in Utica, with her late father, State Supreme Court Judge, John Tenney. Her reference to “the family you come from” hit many Italians in exactly the intended way.

Tenney and Brindisi have plenty of differences on issues like job creation, access to healthcare, tax policy and climate change. Voters expect a vigorous debate on the role of the federal government in these matters. We don’t deserve a candidate who traffics in ethnic slurs, character assassination, and innuendos concerning Americans of Italian descent.

Rep. Tenney should respect the tens of thousands of Italian Americans who live throughout her district. We might not share her privileged background, but we do expect decency and respect from any politician who seeks our vote.

MARGHERITA ROSSI

BINGHAMTON

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